Add to that 1864 the way Bellamy speaks of Mark Hughes and I think it is more than a mere possibility. As for 7 Mil for Bellamy, I am thinking he will go very very cheap, sort of like Cole did from here, we paid about 7 mil for him didn't we.

Throws a little more fuel on my prediction fire. I am convinced and have been since Hughes came here that Bellamy will be a Rover come January.

I don't think Duffer was light weight, looks like Mr Universe compared to MGP.

I believe you Bryan.

It will take some time for Hughes to evaluate the players at all levels. Let's not forget this is the first week he has had without the distractons of the Welsh job. I feel that, for now the Boss feels MGP, is too lightweight. after more time he may well decide his skill level overcomes this. I am sure he will figure.

Back to the subject of old boys. Watched the highlights of the Everton game, Marcus Bent was looking quite sharp too.

As for the brain dead etc Dream Team, I actually like the show though I did prefer it when it was about the academy more. The acting is crap and it is a bit soap opera-ish but when you are as starved for footy as we are over here any port in a storm eh?

I recall sometime ago wondering out loud on here if Thommo was not finished. Very concerned this lad may never return.

[2 The club (wrongly in my view but its too late now) appointed the overwheming choice of the fans (and players ffs ) as the new manager.*

We told 'em so did'nt we TND. No really, it's too bad. Don't want to slate him yet but if memory serves we have always suffered after the international breaks.

Next week is scary too, Chelsea will be like a house on fire.

Can Hughes bring us back up, that was always my worry.

Just returned from Mexico. Was not expecting muc from this game but 4-0 is a bit of a shocker.

I think we can put behind us discussions about what Mark Hughes has or has not achieved at Wales, I stick by my original opinion that his accomplishments were overblown based on one or two good results, hence my lack of support for him becoming our boss.

What we need to be getting on with is what can he do for Blackburn Rovers now. My early impressions are if he can continue to get this team to show the effort and determination he has done early on we have some good things to come. Emerton is a new man altogether, Jansen has a chance at a comeback, he's brought in Djorkfrenchman allowing Bazza a bit more opportunity to play.

Strongly against his appointment, I must say I have been quite encouraged by the improvements, subtle but nevertheless very important. Players body languages seem also different it's all encouraging. It looks like he may have handled MGP's situation correctly if reports of his performance for Norway are anything to go on. Thommo's (hopefully) coming back, Reid will soon be fit (I think all he needs is some games, actually performed decently at RB I thought) So let's see what Hughes can do when he has players to work with every day instead of just International breaks, I for one am a little bit upbeat.

Only seen Boro a few times this season and I think they have looked pretty steady at the back and quite good going forward. Add to that our walking wounded and exhausted from international duties and I don't see us getting much from this one. Sorry.

If you continue that line of reasoning theno, you end up with an American approach to professional sports... which resembles the ultimate in socialism.

Salary caps, concessions for poor-performing clubs, etc.

Interesting how the USA love their 'free trade and capitalism' yet have clearly discovered that rampant capitalism applied to the sporting arena soon becomes very dull and boring.

Certainly pg. And isn't some system of restricting salaries to a percentage of a clubs income being mooted over here? If so that will surely prove to be another nail in the BRFC / Prem coffin.

next

Been here before haven't we? A salary cap that represent a percentage of the clubs income only favours the big teams again. A salary cap that is the same for all teams at the same level is what is needed to help create a level playing field.

I can't believe it, surely the FA know Andy Cole did not do anything, I just don't see how a man with his hands glued to his hips can throw any punches.

Good, now hopefully we can get a goalie coach who can work with Brad on closing down angles, taking advantage of his huge frame. Coming off the line a bit better too can't hurt.

England to thrash Wales at least as soundly as the Italians did: 4-0.

Hughes to rescue his Welsh swansong with a sterling performance from the boyos midweek but to return to a huge Rovers crisis as Emerton gets cropped in Samoa and MGP bumps into Ferguson in Glasgow.

Bloody hell philipl, nothing like optimism is there?

Hey, don't get me wrong, I was not knocking fergie. thought he was coming on great at the time of the injury. I just have a sneaky feeling we will not see the best of him at ewood now Souness has gone.

jim 30 should do it.

On the subject of Ferguson, anybody here think he will be off to join Souness in January. I do. My crystal ball says Fergie to the Geordies with Bellamy and cash coming this way. You heard it here first.

Best memory of him is the infamous tackle on Len Fucillo when he cut him in half on the ice that was Ewood Park !

What a beaut that was, was that the one about the half way line and most of the Riverside thought for sure the fella had a broken neck. What ever happened to that player, did he ever land on Earth or is he still in orbit?

Mike England, Hendry good as he was maybe just about fit to tote Englands kit bag.

What's going on with thommo exactly. What was his latest injury and why so long out.

here's an added bonus I actually enjoyed it as a football match, it had good entertainment value

we only let one in, not three.

1 - I hope your joking - either that or you must really be missing football

2- But we still got beat

Good post none the less USA and similar to what I was saying about there being light on the Horizon - but just how far is it? One thing is certain, is it looks nearer than it did 3/4 weeks ago and it will be 12 noon sooner rather than later

No I am not, I actually enjoyed it, maybe it was cos I felt we could get something from it. It was not pretty by any means but I was into the game. there have been many games I have watched when we go behind that I sort of lost interest in because I have never had the feeling we would come back.

Don't know what it was but I did enjoy it.

As far as still getting beat, picky buggar aren't you.

I too thought Ferguson was absent for 98% of the match. Started wondering if he has his mind on St James' Park already.

I am glad to see there are others who got some feelgood factor out of the game, I was beginning to think I was just going nuts.

Now the rant, for all you moaners. I did not want Mark Hughes as boss, many of you did. Did any of you whining crybaby why can't we play like Arsenal experts REALLY expect Hughes to turn this around after two games. He still has a lot to learn about our team, players, strengths weaknesses, give him time. If you all can not take some positive out of the change in effort, passion and commitment then there is something wrong. It was far superior to some of the limp wristed bend over and take it in the arse play we saw during Souness' reign. If Hughes has had this much impact in just over a week I saw we are on to something here, and here's an added bonus I actually enjoyed it as a football match, it had good entertainment value. Bring on the Villa we're gonna kill 'em.

Whoo hoo renewed hope over here, can you dig it, can you join me come on folks it's the start of something big, the defence hey it was good, we only let one in, not three. Amo was verygood last night I liked when he brought the ball out, for those of you who said he just lumped it you are nuts.

Seems to me the best way to improve our defence immediately is to keep the ball in the opponents half and have players that the other team HAVE to worry about, this fella can help with both those aspects.

Pretty exciting I think. Someone to pass the ball for Stead and Dickov just how it is supoosed to be instead of hoofing it up in the air. If he is match fit I expect him to make an immediate impact.

The Guardian report. Another report in the much derided press which does not slam the Rovers' performance the way many on this mb have done.

The telling line is where it says that there probably is little difference between 7th and 16th in the Premiership this season.

I remain extremely concerned by Ferguson's failure last night (this was a game he should have bossed but his long and short passing looked all wrong and he seemed to wilt under Charlton pressing), resigned to the fact that we will have an unreliable defence until 1 January at the earliest and cannot see Dickov and Stead becoming an effective attacking unit.

Yes we are one point away from a relegation slot and the next three games at least are going to be massive nail biters with defeat in any of them precipitating full on crisis reactions from the supporters.

However, there are very encouraging signs from last night:

Look at what Jansen did well - he looked physically stronger, lasted the 90 minutes as well as anyone and not one skill was consistently missing from his repertoire- and also remember he could be frustratingly eratic BEFORE his accident. This now encourages me to believe that the percentage of good play by Jansen will increase the more games he gets and that a Jansen/Stead partnership will emerge as one of the most potent strike forces in the Premiership. Competition for places from Bothroyd, Dickov and Gally will be intense but I think the goals will begin to flow again.

Emerton also just needs to keep on lifting his confidence level. Not so much the touchline dragon neeeds slaying but what about the by-line bogeyman? Had Emerton driven for the by-line on four occaisions last night when the opportunity was there, I am sure he would have set up at least two golden chances. Emerton blossoming into a player opposition managers worry about will give Hughes the opportunity to blood MGP/de Pedro on the other side but they will remain a luxury item until Emerton and Jansen are fully restored to self-belief. Hopefully his dead ball and crosses delivery will suddenly click into gear as well- we have seen him deliver fantastic corners, its the problem of the ten duds before the one with menace that Hughes and his team need to sort out.

Most importantly, Hughes seems to be a much smarter motivator than Souness. I was really impressed by the way Rovers put enormous pressure on Charlton for 15 minutes after conceding that goal and kept creating goal threats after Charlton had weathered that initiial storm.

Lets also be grateful that Pompey, Saints, Baggies and Palace are in the Prem this season and that Norwich have played so well for so little reward.

Thank god for you philipl. I thought Matty looked sharp on occasion also. the fella can still win headers. It may just come back to him. I agree him and Stead could, and I emphasise could, work out well if Stead gets some coaching on winning the ball in the air and beefs up a bit. It was encouraging to see him get a few calls for fouls last night usually the refs just let the other team knock him around. Bring on the Villa.

Did I watch a different game than some? I thought we were better than a lot I have seen of Rovers lately. First half we were poor, second half after they scored I thought we did rather well. I felt encouraged in defeat which is something I have not felt for a long time.

Neill needs to be sat though he scares me, Gray I thought ran his heart out for us. All the team worked hard and gave their all. We have been on a downslide for sometime the finesse play will come back with some confidence. I do hope however Hughes is not going to persist with the long ball, we have no one to win it. If we continue to be commited to effort as tonight we will turn the corner.

The final ball must get better, it will, some improvement in ideas from set pieces and I think we can do alright.

What I learnt from tonight's performance is:

Boothroyd looks poor

Jansen is a million miles from being in the team

As is Gresko

Stead's confidence must be rock bottom

Shouldn't have sold Yorke and Cole

Nisse was very poor

Pederson looked Ok at this level

Amo needs a Short or Matteo to play alongside him

Must disagree about Douglas though who I thought did a very good job

Oh and I missed two of the Rvoers goals.

Time for an ice bath

I see there are 180 degrees seperation from Saturdays summation of players. How so in such a short time. I am totally ###### off by this result. Blessing in disguise, MGP scored and hit his penalty, Gally scored. Mark Hughes will have a bit clearer idea of what he has to work with.

Mondays game is on TV not sure whether I dare watch or not.

Oh just one more thing, Souness is gone, I was a supporter of his, Hughes is here I did not want him here but for pity's sake could we focus our conversations on what Sparky has to do rather than continue the arguments about Souness.

Repeat after me, Souness is gone, Souness is gone, Souness is gone, Souness done a runner.

Jeez how bloody embarassing, I expect we'll be inundated with mouthy clarrots now. I had a funny feeling we would lose tonight.